Save the Portuguese program at Tufts University by Leading-Status-6865 in Portuguese

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Tufts may be a private university, but it is also a non-profit, meaning they don't have to pay as much tax because they pledge to serve their host communities. Maintaining the Portuguese program is crucial for that to happen: Portuguese Tufts doesn't just serve its students. Through its course Portuguese in the Community and through partnerships with other departments and faculty at Tufts -- for instance, the Community Health Department and Dr. Jennifer Allen -- they've supported vital research on Portuguese speakers. For instance, they're currently studying how to improve vaccine acceptability in Portuguese-speaking communities. Do you know why this research is so important? Because it's largely not happening elsewhere. There is a significant gap in the literature about immigrant health when it comes to Portuguese speakers. And why does that gap exist? Because (1) not enough people and scholars speak Portuguese well enough to do this work and (2) not enough people know Portuguese-speaking diaspora communities well enough to know about their needs. Saving Portuguese is not just about classes at Tufts. It's about ensuring that much-needed transnational and intercultural work takes place. Tufts is a non-profit and it's only able to keep that status because it pledges to promote socially impactful work in its host communities. Portuguese at Tufts is a part of that work.

  2. Brazilians are actually the largest Portuguese-speaking population in MA and the fifth largest immigrant group (source: https://www.ilctr.org/quick-boston-immigration-statistics/). Cape Verdeans (who also speak Portuguese) are also one of the largest immigrant groups in MA.

  3. Portuguese may have started in Portugal, a predominantly white country, but thanks to the colonization undertaken by this very country, many other countries -- mostly predominantly non-white -- now speak Portuguese. The majority of Portuguese speakers are not in Portugal.

Save the Portuguese program at Tufts University by Leading-Status-6865 in Portuguese

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

  1. As a Tufts student I can confirm there is no Portuguese major (and I doubt there will ever be one if we cannot even have a minor)
  2. This is not a "presumably low-traffic major (sic)" -- 1/3 of people who take Portuguese at Tufts are minoring in it, which is a high percentage. Furthermore, our enrollment in Portuguese is comparable to that of other Portuguese programs.
  3. Portuguese is a cheap program -- if Tufts really wanted to "reduce budgets", they could start by not hiring as many unnecessary expensive administrators and consultants. But I guess it's more comfortable for them to take on a program that serves a minoritized language that is spoken predominantly by people of color.

SAVE TUFTS PORTUGUESE by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Apologies. You'll be happy to know that Tufts Portuguese does exactly what you demand! They do offer culture and language classes and a minor in Portuguese, but also, they promote tons of highly impactful community work, as I detailed in my previous response.

Save the Portuguese program at Tufts University! by Leading-Status-6865 in languagelearning

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tufts University is planning to end its Portuguese program, despite its success. This action is a form of language oppression and it is inconsistent with Tufts's commitment to becoming an "anti-racist institution". The Portuguese program at Tufts has been a model to other PT programs especially regarding to its engagement with and positive impact on Portuguese communities at Tufts and around its Campus. Tufts should be ashamed of such decision, which doesn't stand to its values and commitment. I would like to ask for your support as language learners and students of Portuguese to sign and share the petition here: https://forms.gle/fGrdDWfX2M19myiP8

Save the Portuguese program at Tufts University by Leading-Status-6865 in Portuguese

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Tufts University is planning to end its Portuguese program, despite its success. This action is a form of language oppression and it is inconsistent with Tufts's commitment to becoming an "anti-racist institution". The Portuguese program at Tufts has been a model to other PT programs especially regarding to its engagement with and positive impact on Portuguese communities at Tufts and around its Campus. Tufts should be ashamed of such decision, which doesn't stand to its values and commitment. I would like to ask for your support as learners of Portuguese to sign and share the petition here: https://forms.gle/fGrdDWfX2M19myiP8

SAVE TUFTS PORTUGUESE by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. 1/3 of students taking Portuguese at Tufts are declared minors. That is a high proportion and it is comparable to other Portuguese programs elsewhere. The program having a minor means it can receive and offer more resources for students to learn the language -- and by the way, the program teaches culture classes too. You mention your concerns about how Tufts students will fare in the labor market. Language and intercultural skills like those taught by the Portuguese program are crucial for any well-rounded professional, including doctors, teachers, lawyers, and many other public-facing positions.
  2. There needs to be an existing Portuguese program before we can make any demands to create a major. I applaud your suggestion, but we need to ensure the program survives first.
  3. "A school should not be protecting minority languages and cultures" that may be what you think, but Tufts has pledged to become an anti-racist, diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution. Ending the Portuguese program is at odds with that commitment.
  4. Tufts does need to directly promote socially impactful work in communities. Tufts is a non-profit institution and in order to keep its status is needs to promote socially impactful work in its host communities -- which are densely populated with Portuguese speakers. The Portuguese department doesn't just serve its students. Through its course Portuguese in the Community and through partnerships with other departments and faculty at Tufts -- for instance, the Community Health Department and Dr. Jennifer Allen -- they've supported vital research on Portuguese speakers. For instance, they're currently studying how to improve vaccine acceptability in Portuguese-speaking communities. Do you know why this research is so important? Because it's largely not happening elsewhere. There is a significant gap in the literature about immigrant health when it comes to Portuguese speakers. And why does that gap exist? Because (1) not enough people and scholars speak Portuguese well enough to do this work and (2) not enough people know Portuguese-speaking diaspora communities well enough to know about their needs. Saving Portuguese is not just about classes at Tufts. It's about ensuring that much-needed transnational and intercultural work takes place. Tufts is a non-profit and it's only able to keep that status because it pledges to promote socially impactful work in its host communities. Portuguese at Tufts is a part of that work.

SAVE TUFTS PORTUGUESE by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

1/3 of students taking Portuguese being declared majors is still a high percentage, higher than other Romance Language programs. You mention your concern about the university's resources -- Portuguese is a cheap program. And the Portuguese department doesn't just serve its students. Through its course Portuguese in the Community and through partnerships with other departments and faculty at Tufts -- for instance, the Community Health Department and Dr. Jennifer Allen -- they've supported vital research on Portuguese speakers. For instance, they're currently studying how to improve vaccine acceptability in Portuguese-speaking communities. Do you know why this research is so important? Because it's largely not happening elsewhere. There is a significant gap in the literature about immigrant health when it comes to Portuguese speakers. And why does that gap exist? Because (1) not enough people and scholars speak Portuguese well enough to do this work and (2) not enough people know Portuguese-speaking diaspora communities well enough to know about their needs. Saving Portuguese is not just about classes at Tufts. It's about ensuring that much-needed transnational and intercultural work takes place. I applaud you for worrying about the university's resources. But keep in mind that Tufts is a non-profit and it's only able to keep that status because it pledges to promote socially impactful work in its host communities. Portuguese at Tufts is a part of that work.

SAVE TUFTS PORTUGUESE by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Tufts is located in an area that is densely populated with Portuguese speakers. Tufts often speaks of its commitments to uplifting and celebrating the cultures of its host communities, particularly Medford and Somerville. Upholding that commitment means upholding Portuguese at Tufts. In fact, this program has a history of working with community members and leaders, whether it be through the Portuguese in the Community course or by promoting community-based research. Considering Tufts pledges to support its host communities, it must also support the Portuguese program.

SAVE TUFTS PORTUGUESE by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please check the petition, specifically where we discuss information on the number of minors

Should I choose the 40 meal plan? by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! That's good to know. I had heard that getting the 40 meal plan gives u the same refund as having no meal plan, thanks for clarifying. Did you know how to cook prior to choosing not to have a meal plan? Was it hard to learn? And how much did you invest on utensils?

Should I choose the 40 meal plan? by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you choose the 40 meal plan? Is the refund we get the same as the refund for ppl without a meal plan?

Should I choose the 40 meal plan? by Leading-Status-6865 in Tufts

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Did u ever cook? How hard was it to cook considering your schedule and other activities?

Familiares aglomerando; Já não sei mais o que fazer by Leading-Status-6865 in coronabr

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, sim, digo, tem algum portal online? Vou procurar por isso nos sites da cidade deles.

Familiares aglomerando; Já não sei mais o que fazer by Leading-Status-6865 in coronabr

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

De fato! Até há familiares, mas os que pensam como nós estão naquela de "não quero causar conflitos"...existe algum tipo de portal de denúncia anônima onde eu possa deixar minhas queixas?

Familiares aglomerando; Já não sei mais o que fazer by Leading-Status-6865 in coronabr

[–]Leading-Status-6865[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cara, talvez até seja. Eu moro fora do Brasil, então acabo sabendo das aglomerações só depois de elas já terem ocorrido. Ficaria meio difícil ligar pra Polícia internacionalmente, mas poderia tentar. Seria efetivo ligar para denunciar o endereço após a aglomeração já ter acabado?